Machine for building tunnels and the like



M H. SHEEN. MACHINE FOR BUILDING TUNNELS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20. 1920.

9 M v. r w R w. m v Pm A 3 I m M e r- 1 M M, @J .P Y B 4 M. n; SHEEN. MACHINE FOR BUILDING TUNNELS AND THE LIKE. v

APPLICATION FILED NOV, 20. 1920- I Patentadsept. 19,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYI M. R. SHEEN.

MACHINE FOR BUILDING TUNNELS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV, 20, 1920 Patented Sept.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR. MZ'WFO I BY dTTORNEY IMILTON BGY SHEEN, O3? PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO TUNNEL I/IAGEINE MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF IPHILADELPHIA, EENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF LIELAV/"ARE.

MACHINE 1 0R BUILDING TUNNELS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed November 20, 1920. Serial No. 425,53.

To allwlz am it may concern.

Be it known that I, ll ilrnron ROY SHEEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia chine having a casing, within which a struc-.

ture is formed of bricks, or building blocks. The machine also includes a rotary cam mounted within the casing for forcing the blocks into place inthe structure and for forcing the casing forward through the eX- cavation made by a cutting head.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of rotary cam and bearings for mounting the cam within the casing and also the means for driving the cam; further objectof my invent on is to provide a novel form ofanti-l'riction carriages for relieving the friction between the face of the structure and the cam; and a still. further object is to provide a bearing ring having rollers thereon between the cam and the bearing secured to the casing. These together with various novel features of con struction and arrangement of the 'parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed, constitute my invention. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, F 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional wilew of my improved machine; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of one-half of the machine, as on line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section"on line 8-3, Fig. 1, showing a portion of the cam and the bearing ring; ig. 4 is a transverse section on line -d, Fig. 1, showing a portion of the face of the cam; Fig. 5 is a partial vertical longitudinal section on line 5-5, Fig. 2, drawn ona larger scale; Fig. v6 is a perspective view of a portion of the bearing ring; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the carriages,

as shown in the upper portion of Fig. 1, shown detached from the cam and drawn on a larger scale; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of 7 5 Fig. 9 is acentral section, as on line 9 9, Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is a transverse section'on line l010, Fig. 9.

In the accompanying drawings, 'in which like reference characters re-fer to like parts, 1 represents the cylindrical casing having at the forward end acutting head 2 carried by a centralv shaft-3, mounted in the bearing l secured to the casing. The cutting head 2 is rotated by braces 5, secured to a ring-gear 6, rotatably mounted in the bearing collar 8, which is secured to the casing.

The ring-gear 6 is rotated by a pinion 7 driven by a motor 9 mounted upon the bearing 4:. r

The excavation is made through the ground, the proper diameter for the passage of the casing by the cutter head 2. I

The sewer or tunnel structure is formed at the rear end of the casingl and consists of. blocks or bricks 12 which are laid suc-' cessively by hand, or automatically, to form a cylindrical structure. 1

A cam cylinder 15, having a spiral cam face 16 is provided within the casing which. cam face 16 presses against the anti-friction carriages 18 which in turn pressa 'ainst the blocks 12 and forces theminto place in the structure 13 as the cam cylinder 15 rotates. The cam, thus pressing against the carriages, which are positioned against the forward face of the structure, forces the casing 1 forward as thestructure is formed by the successive layingof the blocks 12 in the cylindrical structure, which latter is also formed with a spiral forward face corresponding to thespiral face 16 of the cam cylinder 15.

A bearing flange 20 is rigidly secured in the casing and is provided with a cylindrical surface forming atrack 21 and also an annular face forming a thrust. bearing surface 22. The cam cylinder 15 revolves within the casing upon the concentric track 21v and'it is held against longitudinal movement in relation to the casing by the said annular bearing surface '22 of the bearing flange 20, and by the detachable flange plate 23. The latter is secured to the forward edge of the cam cylinder 15 and overlaps the front face of the bearing flange 20.

A bearing ring 25, having loosely mounted rollers 26 and27 thereon, is interposed between the bearing faces 21 and 22 ofthe bearing flange and the cam cylinder 15 to reduce the friction between the latter and ing ring which extend parallel with. the axis of rotation of the bearlng ring, as shown in Flgs. 3 and 6.

cylindrical bearing surface 30 which rotates upon the rollers 260i the bearingring; and saidcam cylinder 15'1s 'also provided with auannular rib 82 having a facing surface 33, which bears upon the rollers 2701i thebearing ring 25'.

, The bearing flange 20 is provided with an annular groove into which fits av circular dust ring mounted upon the cam cylinder 15, (more clearly shown in Fig. 5), which, prevents" the 'dust and dirt from the cuttingv 7 head from enteringthe' space occupied by the'bear ng r1ng25'. i y

Thecani cylinder 15'is1provided with agear-wheel 36, having internallyprojecting teeth 37, which are'engaged by a pinion 39 for rotating the cam cylinder 15. The pinion 39 is rotated by amotor 40,- through gear wheels" 41 and 12. The latter-is secured upon the shaft d3 having a worm 4:4 thereon, which worm drives the worm-' wheel 15 upon the shaft on which the pinion'39 is secured. i i l The shaft eG'carrying the pinion 39'is rotat ably mounted inthebearings a? of the housing 18 for the worm-wheel 45. The housing 4-8. is "rigidly secured upon a flange or bracket 49, projecting from the bearing The cam proper v having the cam face 1'6, forms part of the cam cylinder 15 and is formedby the enlarged members 50, and 51 connected by radial 52, more clearly shown in 4 and 5. Said ribs" 52extend longitudinally upon the cylindrical surface of the cam cylinder and thus strengthen the annular'rib 32," which bears the end thrust of the cam. I I The cam face 16, formed by the member's and- 51, is of sp'iralformatiomand has a against the bearing ring rollers27 and takes 10w place 17, as shown in Fig. 1- Said 10W of-the ca m" and the structure for the'insertionof the brifcksfas the building of the structure progresses; Between the members 50*and51 of'the cam isla space forming a continuous groove 54 throughout the face of thecam. $aidgroove354 is provided: tore- Saidcarriages 18 do not revolve with the cam cylinder 15;

vthe face 16 of the cam presses.

The cam cylinderlfi is provided with a. secured having the wheels and 59' posiceive the rollers 56 ofthe anti-friction carriages 18 and forms a guide'for the car riages. v 1

The carriages 18 are positioned between the face 16 of the cam and the structure.

The carriages 18 are pro-'- vided: with wheels 58 and 59 against which Said wheels 58 and 59 are loosely mounted upon a shaft 60 secured inthe body portion 61 of the carriage18. Y

he carriages 18 each consist of the body portion 61, in which the said shaft 1 60 is tioned on each side of the body portion.

One of said wheels '59 rides upon'the inner member 50 and the other wheel rides upon theouter member 51 ofthe cain'face 16,

Therollers 56 on the carriages 18 travel freelyin the groove 54: formed in the face ofth'e cam. Each roller 56 turns'loosely upon a bushing 62, secured by abolt 63 to, the bodyportion 61 of the carriage; The rollers 56 form pivot points upon whiehthe carriages rock andsaid rollers guide the carriages in relation to the cam face and hold the 'aXis of each carriage a uniform distance from the ariis ofrotation of" the cam cylinder. I 7' The carriages 18 are held together by ball and socket joints and thus form a continuous chain or icaterpillar, whichconforms with the faceof the cam.

Each carriage 18 is constructed in the general, form 'off'a bell crank lever as shown in Figs 7 and 9; one arm 65 of which'carries the wheels 58 and 59, which bear agalnst the cam face 16 1 and the roller 56 which travels'in the groove 54 of the cam face and.

joint: with the next carriage. All'thesaid l'iearing points of the carriage a re'in approximate'ly the same plane upon one of the arms arm 67 is retained in the socket 68, formed in the bodyportion 61 by the presser plate 70, which overlaps a portion of the ball 69. The presser plate 70 has a recess 71 formed ball and is secure dto the'faceof'the body I portion of the carriagebybolts 72. Said plate '70 has a lug 7 3 formed upon the under side 'thereof which fits into the larger recess 741 forinedin the body, portion 61. The lug 73 forms an additionalthickness in the plate '50 for the formation of the therein conforming with the surface ofthe 105' also the socket 68 forming part of the ball spherical recess 71 conforming with the surface of the ball 69.

The body portion 61 is'provided with lugs 76 and 77 for retaining the ball 69 in its socket 68, which latter is formed partly in the said lugs which are recessed to conform with the surface of the ball. Said lugs are spaced apart and provided with flaring surfaces 78 and. 79 for the free sidewise movement of the arm 67 carrying the ball, and the open space between the lugs extending from the bottom of the groove 68, formed in the body portion, to the edge of the overlap ung presscr plate permits of free movement in the opposite direction of the arm 67. It will be seen that the universal joints provided between the carriages permit of suffic'ent flexibility in the caterpillar to allow the carriages to follow the contour of the face of the cam 16 including the low portion 17, shownln Fig.

ihe cam cylinder 15 is provided w1th an extension, in the form of an inner cylindri cal shell 80 secured to the cam cylinder 15. Said shell 80 projects beyond the wheels 59 of the carriages 18. Upon the outer surface of said shell 80 is secured an annular guidebar or track 81 Which follows the contour of the cam face 16. The wheels 59 of the carriages ride against said track 81 throughout the low portion 17 of the cam and hold the carriages adjacent to the cam face 16 and said track 81 thus draws the carriages away from the bricks or blocks forming the structure, thus providing; free space for the insertion of a brick into the structure upon each revolution of the cam cylinder as the low portion of the cam com-es opposite to the space in the structure into which the new brick is to be inserted.

ylindrical shield 85 is provided within the cylindrical structure 13 formed by the bricks. The shield 85 is advanced by hand, or automatically, as the work progresses and it retains the cement or plaster in which the bricks are laid and prevents the same from falling from the upper portion of the structure.

The operation of my invent-ion is as follows: An excavation is made in the ground of sufficient dimensions to receive the machine at the level on which the sewer is to ac built; a starting form having a spiral face is anchored in a fixed position adjacent to the end of he casing 1 so thatthe spiral face 16 of the cam 15, as it rotates, will press the antifriction carriages 18 against the face of the starting form, and the machine will thus be advanced by the action of the cam against the starting form; as the cam r o tates within the casing as the low place in the cam comes opposite to the proper place in the starting form in which the first brick or block is to be inserted, the brick is put in place and the cam as it further rotates presses the anti friction carriage a ainst the brick, forcing the latter into place and further'advancing the machine. A new brick is inserted on each revolution of the cam, and the cylindrical structure is thus form-ed by successively placing bricks into structure when the low place in the cam withdraws the carriages from the face of the structure a sufficient distance to allow a brick to be inserted in its proper place to form the cylindrical structure having a spiral end face, The cutter head is rotated by a separate motor 9, and makes cylindrical excavation into which the casing 1 is advanced by the action of the spiral cam pressing the carriages against the spiral face of the cylindrical brick structure. The cam is rotated, independently of the'cutter head, by the motor 40 through the chain of gear Wheels engaging the ring gear 36 secured to the cam cylinder 15. The bearing flange 20, secured in the casing 1, holds the cam against longitudinal displacement in relation to the casing.

Between the face 16 of the cam and the face of the brick structure are the anti-friction carriages 18, having wheels against which the face of the cam presses, Each carriage has a presser plate 70 which is forced against the face of the bricks by the rotary movement of the cam. The carriages are pivotally secured together and form a continuous chain or caterpillar.

The cam is provided with a low placein its face to form a space for the insertion of the bricks or blocks. The carriages follow the contour of the face of the cam and are drawn away from the face of the brick structure, by the annular guide bar 81 on the cam, thus an open space is formed for the insertion of a new brick into the structure between the carria 'es and the structure at the low place of the cam at each revolution of the latter.

Having thus described invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A machine for building tunnels and the like, having; in combination, a casing, an annular bearing flange secured within the casing, saidbearing flange having a cylindrical track thereon, an annular bearing surface upon the bearing flange, a bearing ring, rollers loosely mounted upon the bearing ring adapted to travel upon the said cylindrical track and upon the said annular bearinnsurface of the bearing flange, and a cam cylinder rotatably mounted upon the said rollers of the bearing ring.

2. A machine for building tunnels and the like, having in combination, a cylindrical casing, a bearing flange secured within the casing. a bearing ring, a set of rollers mounted upon axes in the bearing ring extending parallel with the axis of rotation of the bearing ring, a set of rollers mounted upon axes in the bearing extending radially from'the center of the bearingring, a cam cylinder having a cylindrical facin surface adapted to travclupon one set of said rollers of the bearing 1.'in;, ;,'and an annular ri'o upon the cam cylinder adapted to bear against the other ing ring. v, v

3. A. machine for building tunnels and the like, having in combination, a (33 1111 drical casing, a bearing flangesecured to the casing, a bearing ring, rollers mounted upon the bearing ring adapted to travel upon the bearing fla ne, a cam cylinder mounted upon the rollers of the bear; ringgand a detachable flange plate securcc to the cam cylinder adapted to overlapthe v bearing" flange and hold the cam cylinder adjacent to the bearing ring. r

4. A machine for building tunnels and the like, having in combination, a cylindrical casing, I tion secured upon the inner surface of the casing, said bearing flange having an" internal cylindrical bearing surface thereon,

said bearing flange having an inwardly projecting-annular flange having a bearing facing surface thereon, a cam cylinder .rotat ably mounted within the casing, and'antifriction members positioned between the cam cylinder and ,thesaid bearing surfaces of the bearing flange.

if like, having in combination,- a cylindrical casing, a hearing flange'of cylindrical formation secured upon the inner surface of the casing, a cam cylinder rotatably mounted upon the bearing flange, a gear ring secured within the cam cylincle said gear ring having internally projecting teeth formed thereon, a pinion meshing with the gear ring,a shaft upon which said pinion is mounted, a hearing 1n which sa d shaftis rotatably mounted, a bracket formed upon the said bearing'flange to which the hearing carrying said shaft is secured, and

means for rotating the said shaft.

7, A machine for building tunnelsand the like, having in combination, a cylindrical casing, a bearing flange of cylindrical formation secured upon the inner surface of the'casing, a cam cylinder rotatably mountedupon the bearing flange, a ring gear s oured to the cam cylinder, a pinion meshing of rollersof the'bear a bearing flange of cylindrical formacarriages.

with the ring gear, a shaft carrying the pinion, a bearing secured in a fixed position in which said shaft is rotatably mounted, worm-wheel upon said shaft,"a worm for driving-the worm-wheel mounted upon saidbearing, and means'for rotating the said worm. V 1

8. A machme for building tunnels and the like, having in combination a casing, a

hearing'flange secured within the casing, a cam cylinder rotatably mounted upon the bearing flange, an annular rib formed upon the outside of the cam cylinder, facing surface formed upon the sald rib, anti-fric- 'tioninembers positioned between said rib and the bearing flange, a cam -meinber formed upon the cam cylinder, and radial ribs upon the cam cylinder extending between the said annular rib of the cam cylinder and the cam member of the cam cylinder. a

v. 9. A machine for building tunnels and the like, having in combinatioma casing, a'bearing flange secured within the casing,

a cam cylinder rotatably mounted upon the bearingflange, an annular rib formed upon the outside of the cam cylinder, a facing surface vformed upon the said rib, anti-friction members positioned between said rib and the bearing flange, enlarged cam members formed upon the cam cylinder, ribs upon the cam cylinder carrying the outer one of said cam members, said-cam members being spaced apart to form a concentric annular groove between them, anti-friction carriages positioned adjacent to' the cam 'members, and a member upon said carriages adapted to occupy the said groove formed between the cam members for guiding the 10, Ii. machine a cam cylinder rotatably-mounted within the casing, a cam face formedupon one end of the cam. cylinder, antifriction carriages, a wheel upon each carriage adapted to ride upon the cam face, a cylindrical extension upon the cam cylinder extending b e-- yond the wheel of the carr age, and'a' track mounted upon the sald cylindrical GXlJQ-Ilsion against which the wheel of thecarriage may ride when not 1n contact with the face of theca-m.

11,.HA machine for building tunnels and the like, having in combination, a; casing,

a cam cylinder rotatably mounted within the casing, arcain face formed upon oneend of the cam cylinder, said cam face having an annular groove formed in the face thereof,'anti-friction carriages, a roller upon each carriage adapted to occupy the said groove formed in the cam face, a wheel upon the carriage adapted to ride upon the face of the earn, a track carried by the cam cylfor building tunnels'and the like, having-in combination, a casing,

inder for engaging the Wheel of the carriage and holding the roller of the carriage in the said groove in the cam face.

12. A machine for building tunnels and the like, having in combination, a casing, a cam cylinder rotatably mounted Within the casing, a cam face formed upon one end of the cam cylinder, anti-friction carriages, a Wheel upon each carriage adapted to ride upon the face of the cam and means for connecting the carriages together to form a continuous flexible member extending throughout the face of the cam.

13. A machine for building tunnels and the like, having in combination, a casing, a cam cylinder rotatably mounted Within the casing, a cam face formed upon one end of the cam cylinder, anti-friction carriages, a Wheel upon each carriage adapted to ride upon the face of the cam, and a ball and. socket connection between each carriage for forming a continuous flexible member extending throughout the face of the cam.

14. A machine for building tunnels and the like, having in combination, a casing, a cam cylinder rotatably mounted Within the casing, a cam face formed upon one end of the cam cylinder, anti-friction carriages, a Wheel upon each carriage adapted to ride upon the face of the cam, a body portion forming part of the carriage and carrying said Wheel, said body portion having a recess formed therein, an arm on the body portion, a ball formed upon the end of the arm adapted to enter the recess formed in the next adjoining carriage, and a plate secured upon the body portion for securing the ball in the said recess formed in the body portion of the carriage.

15. A machine for building tunnels and the like, having in combination, a casing, a cam cylinder rotatably mounted Within the casing, a cam face formed upon one end of the cam cylinder, anti-friction carriages, Wheel upon each carriage adapted to ride upon the face of the cam, a body portion forming part of each carriage and carrying said Wheel, said body portion having a recess formed therein, an arm on the body portion, a ball formed upon the end of the arm adapted to enter the recess formed upon in the next adjoining carriage, lugs formed upon the body portion projecting at either side of the arm carrying the ball, and a presser plate secured upon the body portion adapted to retain the ball in the recess formed in the body portion.

16. A machine for building tunnels and the like, having in combination, a casing, a cam cylinder rotatably mounted Within the casing, a cam face formed upon one end of the cam cylinder, anti-friction carriages, a Wheel upon each carriage adapted to ride upon the face of the cam, a body portion f rming part of each carriage and carrying said Wheel, a presser plate detachably secured to the body portion, a lug formed upon the under side of the presser plate, said body portion and the said presser plate having a spherical recess formed therein extending partly into the lug of the presser plate, an

arm upon the body portion, and a ball formed upon the arm adapted to be retained in the spherical recess formed in the next adjoining carriage by the said detachable presser plate.

17. A machine for building tunnels and the like, having in combination, a casing, a cam cylinder rotatably mounted Within the casing, a cam face formed upon one end of the cam cylinder, anti-friction carriages each comprising a body portion, a shaft extending through the body portion, a Wheel mounted upon each end of the shaft at opposite sides of the body portion, said Wheels adapted to ride upon the face of the cam, an arm extending from each body portion to the next adjacent carriage, means for pivotally connecting the arm With the next adjacent carriage, and a presser plate mounted upon each body portion.

18. A machine for building tunnels and the like, having in combination, a casing, a cam cylinder rotatably mounted Within the casing, a cam face formed upon-one end of the cam cylinder, said cam face having an annular groove formed in the face thereof, anti-friction carriages each comprising a body portion in the form of a bell-crank, a roller on one arm of the bell-crank adapted to occupy the said groove formed in the face of the cam, a ball formed upon the end of the opposite arm of the bell-crank, said body portion having a spherical recess formed therein adapted to receive the ball of the arm of the next adjacent carriage, Wheels mounted upon either side of the body portion adapted to ride upon the cam face, and a presser plate upon the body portion of the In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

MILTON ROY SHEEN. 

